Essential movement arises out of a tradition of non-stylised approaches to movement. The practice encourages you to experience and trust your own unique way of moving and being, without music. Music can direct and influence our movement, which can be liberating in itself. Moving without music, gives us an opportunity to follow our own natural rhythms. It allows movement to arise from our inner experience of ourselves and others.

It is often difficult to remain present in the body, and we usually have the habit of allowing our minds to dominate. We all find ways to distract and numb ourselves, for the purpose of blocking out painful feelings, feelings of aliveness, and our innate capacity to give and receive love.

Movement encourages us to bring awareness back to the body, and this enables us to feel deeply, and find the internal resources needed to tolerate and process uncomfortable feelings, and layers of trauma that may be held in the tissues,. It enables us to embody strong feelings with mindfulness. These might include strength, anger, joy, aliveness, grief, love and vulnerability.

On-going practice may lead to experiences of a more fluid and integrated state of being, that arises out of allowing what is present, with trust and curiosity. As our practice deepens, moving with awareness of subtle energy or chi, takes the practice to a meditative level. At this level, moving alone or in contact with others, can be healing and creative, and can open us to subtler realms of Being.